Many employers require post-accident drug tests when you have been involved in a workplace accident. As this article explains, a urine test may detect metabolites of marijuana in which case your employer will attempt to blame you for the accident. If you are in this situation, you need to hire Ryan Pigg immediately. Ryan and his team including expert toxicologists will evaluate your drug screen and apply science to your case instead of myth.
When it comes to marijuana, you may be wondering what is the difference between active THC and the metabolite of marijuana. The answer is that the metabolite is what is tested for in a urine test and it does not get you high. Active THC, on the other hand, does get you high but only if your body breaks down this compound into 11-OH-THC before it enters your bloodstream. Meaning, a positive post-accident drug test only reveals you consumed marijuana at some point before the test; not that you were impaired or high at the time of the accident.
Active THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, which produces a high when ingested. When you consume cannabis, the active compounds are processed by your body through enzymes and metabolized into other chemicals. Active THC is one of these chemicals and it’s what causes you to feel “high” after smoking or ingesting marijuana products with high levels of this compound.
The difference between active THC and CBD (cannabidiol) is that CBD does not produce a psychoactive effect on users. In fact, CBD can be beneficial for treating certain medical conditions without creating the same feeling as getting high from using marijuana products containing higher levels of active THC.
The metabolite is what is tested for in a urine test. It's inactive THC, the byproduct of the body breaking down THC. Inactive THC can remain in your system for weeks after use.
It is only active THC that will make you high, not the metabolite of marijuana.
The reason this distinction matters is that many drug testing labs only test for the metabolite and not for the actual active chemical THC. This means that someone who uses marijuana could test positive on a urine test even though they are not under the influence of marijuana at all!
